ABC7 News-Chicago
The Chicago Police Department is on a mission to get more officers to wear their seatbelt.
An alleged drunk driver killed Officer Michael Gordon earlier this month. Gordon was not wearing a seatbelt.
There have been top level meetings over the last two weeks between Police Brass, the union that represents officers, even extra announcements made at the beginning of shifts. While there’s certainly no way to tell how many officers actually buckle-up, the staff at headquarters is saying there is no excuse to skip a step that could save an officer’s life.
“If everyone could see things through my eyes, and feel things that my body has felt, their attitudes would change,” said Officer Edward Keyes, Chicago police department. On February 24, 1998, two squad cars, coming from opposite directions collided on the city’s South Side.
“Policeman trying to get me out of the vehicle, that’s what brought me back into consciousness,” said Keyes.
Officer Keyes was not wearing his seatbelt that night. Now part of his mission to “serve and protect” includes “protecting” his fellow officers from a similar fate.
There are training tapes and roll-call lectures from the top brass that are more intensified now after the death of officer Michael Gordon. People who stopped by a memorial for him buckled-up as they left. But look around on any given day you’ll see countless officers, even those in the command structure, not wearing their seatbelt.
“I honestly believe that our numbers are improving,” said Dana Starks, Chicago police department.
“The officers need to understand it’s a piece of safety equipment just like a bullet proof vest, it’s there to protect them,” said Mark Donahue, fraternal order of police.
Officers breaking a law they’re paid to enforce is an embarrassing problem for the department. Of greater concern, though, is the danger it can represent to the men and women in blue.
“I would not want to see someone have to go through what I’ve been through,” said Keyes.
CPD has a unit that’s sole purpose is to go around to make sure officers are following the rules. The department -- though -- could not provide ABC7 News with any numbers that show how frequently officers are being cited for not wearing their seatbelts.